Gemotions

The workshop hummed, a low thrum vibrating through Elias's boots and up into his teeth. He tapped a finger against the sleek metal housing of his prototype, the cool surface a pleasant contrast to the heat prickling his skin. He'd been so close, so very close, to perfecting the atmospheric condenser. Then, the patent search. Damn it all. He paced the length of the room, his jaw working as if he were chewing on gravel. The news hadn't sunk in yet, not entirely. He kept re-reading the document, the stark lines of the competitor’s claim. The details were different, of course, but the core functionality… identical. He slammed a fist on the workbench, the sound echoing in the stillness. Frustration clawed at his insides.